Hotel signaling system



(No Model.) A. BARRETT 8v J. ZENTNER.

HOTEL SIGNALING SYSTEM.

No. 390,833. Patented Oct. 9, 1 888.

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ATENT HOTEL SIGNALlNG SYSTEM.

$PECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,833, dated ()etober9, 1888.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ALBERT BARRETT and J OSEPH ZnNTNnR,citizens of theUnited States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson andState of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inHotel Signaling and Alarm Systems; and we do declare the following to bea full, clear, and ex act description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to a hotel signaling and alarm system forestablishing communi cation between the guests rooms and the office ofthe hotel and rendering it possible for the clerk to sound a generalalarm when danger threatening the guests should require it.

The object of the invention is to establish free communication betweenthe individual rooms and the office, to simplify the apparatus, and toprovide against errors in or failure of operation on account ofcarelessness or defective batteries.

To this end our invention embodies a signaling instrumentfor a gucstsroom, which will at any time respond to a call from the central office,may be readily set to transmit a call to the office, and willautomatically respond to the clerks action and indicate that the callhas been received.

Our invention also embodies a duplex or split electric generator forsupplying the system, and a tcstingcircuit and instrument controlled bythe same in such a way that the clerk can always determi no whether thegenerator is in proper working condition without interfering with theservice of the signaling system during his tests.

Our invention also embodies a system of circuits and fire-alarm gongs,by which many bells of great power may be controlled by a small electricgenerator.

Ourinvention also embodies certainimprove ments in the system and indetails of structure, which will hereinafter be fully described in thespecification, and then definitely indicated in the appended claims.

,In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate our invention, Figure 1is a diagrammatic view of a system embodying our invention, showing theapparatus and its connections in two guests rooms, two electromechanicalgongs and their connections in ahallway, and the central-ofliceapparatus. Fig. 2 is an elevation, part being broken away to show thestructure, of a guests signaling apparatus. Fig. 3 is a View inelevation of a central-office indicator. Figs. 4 and 5 show thecontrolling mechanism for the indicator.

In systems of this character it is desirable that a guest should be ableto send his call and then occupy himself with other matterswhile thecall remains unattended to, it not being practicable always for theclerk immediately to respond. It is also advisable to distinguishbetween a mere responding notification upon the part of the clerk that acall has been received and a signal that the guest is wanted. Theapparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 ac complishes both these ends.One of the in struments is placed in each room with which communicationmay be desired. It consists of an electro-maguet, 1, provided with anarmature, 2, and contact-spring 3, normally resting against a back-stop.The armature has a hooked top adapted to be engaged by a lever, at. Thislever plays between two stops, 5 and 6, and is normally held against theup per one by a suitable sprin The apparatus is incloseu in a suitablebox, as shown in Fig. 2, the armature 2 carrying a bell-hammer, and ahell, 9, being supported in cooperative relation thereto. The box isprovided with an opening, 10, Fig. 2,through which is seen aoard bearingtheletters 0.1K. When the lever 4t bears against the upper contact, acord, 11, carrying a handle or pull, Fig. 2, is attached to the free endof lever 4.

In Fig. l the instrument shown in room 1 is shown as calling, while thatin room 2 is shown in its normal condition. Each of the magnets 1 1,&c., of these guests instruments is connected to a commonreturn-circuit, 29 30 31, and an individual branch, 19 43, or 21 45,terminating in a key at the central office. There is a key, 41, for eachinstrument arranged in convenient juxtaposition at the office, so thatwhen the clerk desires to express a want to a guest he operates thecorresponding key. There is, besides these, a common key, 16, for allthe rooms, which will'presently be described. The central office isprovided with an indicator carrying drops or shutters and means ofcontrolling them, so as to show the number of the calling room, withaswitch, 15, adapted to be swept over a series of contacts, 50 51 52, aswill presently be described, with two batteries, 12 12 and 36, anannnnciatingbell, 39, and circuit, and a testinginstrument, 4S, andcircuit.

The indicator, Figs. 3, 4, and 5, is provided with as many drops asthere are rooms. The drops normally occupy the position of 23. Each drophas a corresponding controlling magnet, 18 20. The armature 22 is heldback by a spring or weight, a rigid link, 26, acting on the drop whenthe magnet actuates its armature, as shown at 24, Fig. 5.

In the hallways of the hotel, at suitable intervals,are placed a seriesof electromechanical gongs, 58 64. Controllingmagnets 56 63 are providedfor these gougs, so that on occasions of common danger all the guestscan be aroused by releasing the gongs, which are of such power as tomake the alarm effective day or night.

Having now generally described the parts of the system, we will considerthe circuit con nections which make them operative.

In room 1 the circuit-closing lever 4 is shown latched under thearmature. A guest has pulled the cord and a call is being given atcentral oiilice. The circuit is as follows: contact 5, conductor 7,common return to central 32, relay 34, both branches of battery 12 12,conductor 14, switch 15, contact 50, key 16, back-stop 27 of said key,conductor 66, indicator-magnet 18, individual branch 19, and

lever 4. Both magnets 34 and 18 are energized. Armature 35 closes alocal circuit,in-

eluding battery 36, conductors 37 38, and a tap or continuously-ringingbell, 3.). The bell therefore announces to the clerk that a guest wantsattention. Magnet 18 has operated the indicatordrops, so that the numberof the calling room is exposed.

In order to advise the guest that his call is being attended to theclerk depresses key 16. This completes a circuit through conductors 2829 30 31 S, magnet 1, armature 2, lever 4, contact 5, conductors 7 3233, magnet 34, battery 12 12, conductor 14, switch 15, contact 50, andkey 16. The magnet 1 will thus unhook lever 4, and the latter will beraised by its co-operatingspring and display 0. K. before the opening inthe box, and contemporaneously ring a single tap on the bell 9. Theguest is therefore notified by the tap and card that his call has beenreceived. If he should have left the room meantime, the card is astanding answer to his call; if not, the bell audibly informs him. Letus suppose the clerk wants to communicate with the guest. The guestsinstrument will be in the condition shown in room 2. It will be notedthat the The clerk will therefore depress the key 41 corresponding toroom 2, and a circuit will be closed by way of 0011- (luctor 44, battery36, conductors 29 3O 31 8', magnet 1, armature 2, spring 3, contact 6,lever 4, conductors 21 45, and key 41. The guests magnet will beenergized and will act as a rheotome to continuously ring his bell, andwill continue ringing as long as the clerk holds down the key or untilthe guest answers by pulling the cord. It will be noted that a separatebattery 36 is used for this circuit. As the clerk will respond to theguests only one at a time, it is unnecessary to have as great batterystrength as is necessary for the guests signaling-circuit because,obviously, two or more guests may be calling at the same time, when thedivided current would so reduce a weak current as to create a failure inthe annunciating and indicator magncfs. Battery 36 serves at once as alocal for bell 39 and a signaling agent for the clerk. The latter isalways advised that this battery is in working order by the tone of hiscall. If it should fail to work, such failure will be indicated by theabsence of the ring when any drop is displayed. The drops,beingcontrolled by a different battery, are of course independent of battery36. This disposition obviates a source of greatannoyaneeinannuneiatorsystcms. Usually there is no warning of failure tooperate. 3y the arrangement described the notice is automatic. It ispossible, however, that the battery 12 12 may fall so low inelectro-motive force or become inoperative by a broken cell orevaporation of its excitaut that it will be insnilicient to operate therelay Under ordinary circumstances the clerk would have no notice ofthis. A weakening,iudced,could, perhaps,be discerned by a difference intone of the bell in systems in which the bell is placed directly in themain circuit; but on an entire failure of the batteries the drop andannn nciators would both fail to operate and the whole system berendered inoperative. To obviate this difficulty, we connect the mainbattery in two equal sections connected in a split circuit, as shown at12 12. Each section is provided with a switch, 13 13', normallyconnecting its section in a circuit open at the guests rooms, ashereinbefore described. An additional contact for each switch 46 47 isprovided, both contacts being electrically connected with a galvanometeror current-indicator, 48, which communicates with one pole of thecombined battery by conductor 49. The switches will in practice ofcourse be located at a point couvenient of access to the clerk. Withthis disposition it will be evident that by shifting either switch theclerk can at any time ascertain the condition of the battery. It will benoted, moreover, that with the disposition described while such a testis being made with either section the other section remains coupled inoperative relation to the circuit, so that a call would not be lostshould one be transmitted by a guest during the time a test is beingmade.

- stood in the art.

It will of course be understood that the parts will in practice occupyconvenient positions. The galvanometer and switches will be placed inconvenient relation, so that the clerk can readily make the observationson manipulating a switch.

Besides the testing-switches the central office is provided with anotherswitch, 15, adapted to be swept over a series of contacts, 51 52. Thecontact 50 is in circuit with key 16, as has already been described.Contact 51 is connected with conductor 29, and contact 52 connects withthe lever 54 of the first of the series of electromechanical gongs.Suppose, now, it were necessary to rouse all the guests, as in case of afire. The clerk would shift switch 15 to contact 52. In so doing theswitch would make a momentary contact at 51, and would cut out anyguests instrument which might be calling at that mo ment, a circuitwould be closed through contact 51, conductors 29 30 31, and the callinginstrument, (say in room 1,) armature-lever 4, stop 5, conductors 7 3233, magnet 34, battery 12 12, and switch 15. This would unset the guestsinstrument, or all of themif more than one were set. This is important,because the full strength of the battery will now be needed to makecertain the operation of the gongs. When the switch 15 reaches thealarmcontact 52, therefore, the battery will be disencumbered of anywork and will be in condition to throw its entire strength into thegongreleasing magnet. A circuit is then made proceeding from battery 1212', through magnet 3 1, conductors 33 57, gong-releasing magnet 56,armature 55, lever 54, conductor 53, switch 15, conductor 11, switches1313, and battery.

It will be seen that the first gong gets the whole strength of thebattery. The armature 55 is drawn forward and trips the mechanism of thegong in a manner well under-- Almost simultaneously with the release ofthe gong lever 54. is unlatched, breaking the circuit first traced andcontacting with stop 59 and throwing the current through the next gong,releasing magnet by way of conductor 60, lever 61, armature 62, andmagnet 63, releasing the second gong of the series, and so on. It willthus be seen that an indefinite number of powerful gongs may be releasedbya comparatively slight battery power. 7

Several very important results flow from an organization such asdescribed. By providing a single key or circuit-closer to answer allcalls said key can be placed at the point most convenient for the clerk,while the other individual keys, which collectively occupy considerablereom, will be disposed where there is sufficient room. By thecircuitconnections described the indicator-drops are automaticallyrestored simultaneously with the transmission of an answer to a callThis obviates the necessity of going to the annunciator to reset thedrop, a feature of the annunciators at present in use which is oftenproductive of annoyance to a guest in sending a second call when bynegligence of the clerk or bell-boy his drop has not been reset. Thesingle answering-key also prevents mistakes in the clerks answer, as itis only in cases of importance when the guest is actually wanted thatthe individual keys need be operated. As such an exigency would be oneof higher importance than a mere answer that a call is noted, the clerkwill of course not be so likely to operate the wrong key. Anotherimportant incident of the system is the actual difference inthe audiblesignals given when the different calls are transmitted.

The clerks answer is a single tap on the guests bell. The clerks call tothe guest is a continuous ringing of the guests bell. The alarm is apowerful bell of different tone. This latter is important in this, thata guest will feel no uneasiness in hearing another guests bell, and willinstantaneously recognize an alarm when given.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electric signaling system, the combination of a central office,a series of outlying stations, a common connection between the centraland all of the stations,a normallyopen and a normally-closed branch ateach station, individual circuit-closers at central office correspondingto each normally-closed branch, a circuit-closer at each station adaptedto close either branch but normally impelled to the branch correspondingto its individual circuit-closer, a detent for holding the stationcircuit-closer on the abnormal branch, an electro-magnet for releasingthe detent, said electro-magnet being permanentlyin circuit with theaforesaid common connection, and a general circuit-closer at the centraloffice adapted to connect the normally-open branch with the aforesaidcommon connection, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an electric signaling system containing acentral office and aseries of outlying rooms or stations, the combination of acommon connection between the central and all of the stations, normally-open branchesat central offioe to each station, individual circuit-closers in saidbranches at central office for signaling the respective stations, anormally-open and a normally-closed branch at each station, acircuitcloser at each station adapted to close either branch, asignaling electromagnet in circuit in either position of thecircuit-closer, a lock for holding the circuit-closer on thenormallyopen branch, a general circuit-closer at central office adaptedto connect the normally-open branch with the aforesaid commonconnection, and electric connections for releasing thelock at anystation when the general circuit-closer is operated.

3. In an electric signaling system, the combination of a centralofficeand outlying stations, a common connection between central and allof the stations, a normally-open and a normally-closed branch betweeneach station and central office, individual circuit-closers at centraloffice corresponding to the normally closed branch, a rheotomicbell ateach station in circuit with its normally-closed branch, a normally-openconnection through the magnet of said bell between the normally-openbranch and the com mon connection, and a general cir cnit'closer atcentral oiiice adapted to connect the normally open branch to the commonconnection, whereby a single tap may be produced ata station when inabnormal condition and a continuous ring when in normal condition.

4. In a hotel signaling and alarm system, the combination of a maincircuit containing signal transmitting and receiving instruments, abranch circuit, a manual switch in said circuit, an alarm-gongcontrolled by said branch, an electro-magnet in said branch, a switchactuated by said electro-magnet for cutting out the first gong, and anormally-open branch controlling a second gong adapted to be closed bysaid switch.

5. In a combined signaling and alarm system, the combination of acentral oiiice and outlying stations, a common connection betweencentral and all of the stations, branches to the central normally openat the stations, a circuit-closer at each station for closing itsbranch, receiving-instruments at central, an alarm-circuit, a battery, aswitch connected to said battery to connect to the signaling-circuit orthe alarm'circuit, an electro-magnet at each station for controlling itscircuit-closer, and a branch circuit connecting said magnet with acontact in the path of the travel of the switch between the signalingand alarm circuits, whereby a single battery may be used for bothsystems and its entire strength thrown into the alarm system whennecessary.

6. The combination of an electric circuit, a split battery in saidcircuit, a local normallyopcn branch eircuit,a current-indicatorin saidbranch, and switches in the main circuit for throwing either section ofbattery into the branch circuit, whereby the strength of either sectionmay be tested andcurrent still be maintained on the main line.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

ALBERT BARRETT. JOSEPH ZEYTNER.

Witnesses:

F. M. Bltnnoon. NATHANIEL It. Fnacuson, Jr.

